Palace: Gov’t determined to address traffic woes

MANILA, Philippines – A Palace official on Monday assured the public that the government remains steadfast in solving the worsening traffic situation in the National Capital Region (NCR).

Communications Secretary Herminio “Sonny” Coloma Jr. said the government is determined to conduct necessary efforts to ease the traffic problems through the projects approved by the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) board in June 2014, citing the Mega Manila Dream Plan or Roadmap for Transport Infrastructure Development for Metro Manila and its surrounding areas.

He said the current administration pursued the project as it wants to help the people living and working in NCR and the surrounding areas including the provinces of Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, and Quezon (Calabarzon).

"Determinado ang pamahalaan na gawin ang nararapat upang tumugon sa pangangailangan ng mga mamamayang naninirahan at naghahanapbuhay sa NCR at kanugnog na rehiyon. Inaprubahan na ng NEDA (National Economic Development Authority) Board noon pang Hunyo 2014 at ipinapatupad na ang mga batayang prinsipyo ng Mega Manila Dream Plan o Roadmap for Transport Infrastructure Development for Metro Manila and Its Surrounding Areas, including Calabarzon and Central Luzon," Coloma said.

Coloma added that the roadmap seeks to achieve the recommendations of the Japan International Cooperation Agency which include no traffic congestion; no households living in hazardous conditions; no barriers for seamless mobility; no excessive cost burden for low income groups; and no air pollution.

The Palace official made the statement in response to the report where an official of the American Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines, John Forbes, was quoted as saying that Metro Manila may become “uninhabitable” within four years due to the increasing number of cars and worsening traffic situation.

Forbes said that there is an urgent need for “more limited access roads, skyways and rail.”